Adjustable orthosis

Abstract

An adjustable orthosis for stretching tissue by moving a joint between first and second relatively pivotable body portions includes a first arm with a cuff at its outer end for releasably attaching the first arm to the first body portion, and a second arm with a cuff at its outer end for releasably attaching the second arm to the second body portion. The arms are pivotally connected at their inner ends. An actuator is connected to the arms for applying force to the arms to pivot them relative to each other to move the joint. The actuator includes flexible force transmitting element connected with at least one of the arms, and a drive assembly for applying force to the flexible force transmitting means to move the first and second arms relative to each other. In a preferred embodiment, the flexible force transmitting element is a rope or cable and the drive assembly is a manually actuatable winch for winding the rope or cable. The drive assembly is located at a distance from the pivotal connection of the first and second arms. The orthosis is adjustable while on the limb to a plurality of different positions including at least a first position in which the joint is flexed to a relatively greater degree and a second position in which the Joint is extended to a relatively greater degree. The orthosis can also be used to flex.

I claim: 
     
       1. A method of moving a joint between first and second portions of a limb, said method comprising the steps of connecting a first rigid member with the first portion of the limb, connecting a second rigid member with the second portion of the limb with the first and second rigid members pivotally interconnected adjacent to the joint, and applying force to the first and second rigid members to effect relative movement between the first and second rigid members and relative movement between the first and second portions of the limb, said step of applying force to the first and second rigid members including providing relative rotation between internally and externally threaded members along an axis extending through the joint. 
     
     
       2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of providing relative rotation between the internally and externally threaded members includes moving one of the threaded members away from the joint along the axis extending through the joint. 
     
     
       3. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of applying force to the first and second rigid members includes simultaneously pulling on the first and second rigid members to pivot the first and second rigid members away from each other. 
     
     
       4. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of applying force to the first and second rigid members includes pulling on a flexible force transmitting element while performing said step of providing relative rotation between internally and externally threaded members. 
     
     
       5. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the joint and first and second portions of the limb define on one side of the joint an inner sector which decreases in angle as the joint is flexed and define on the opposite side of the joint an outer sector which decreases in angle as the joint is extended, said step of providing relative rotation between internally and externally threaded members including providing relative rotation between the internally and externally threaded members at a location disposed in the outer sector. 
     
     
       6. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of providing relative rotation between internally and externally threaded members includes manually rotating one of the internally and externally threaded members relative to the other of said internally and externally threaded members. 
     
     
       7. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said step of manually rotating one of the internally and externally threaded members relative to the other of said internally and externally threaded members is performed by a person having the limb to which the first and second rigid members are connected. 
     
     
       8. A method of moving a joint between first and second portions of a limb, wherein the joint and first and second portions of the limb define on one side of the joint an inner sector which decreases in angle as the joint is flexed and define on the opposite side of the joint an outer sector which decreases in angle as the joint is extended, said method comprising the step of applying force to the first and second portions of the limb, said step of applying force to the first and second portions of the limb including providing relative rotation between internally and externally threaded members disposed in the outer sector and transmitting force from the internally and externally threaded members to the first and second portions of the limb. 
     
     
       9. A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said step of providing relative rotation between internally and externally threaded members includes providing relative rotation between the internally and externally threaded members along an axis extending through the joint. 
     
     
       10. A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said step of applying force to the first and second portions of the limb includes applying force to a force transmitting element connected with the first portion of the limb, said step of applying force to a force transmitting element including moving the force transmitting element under the influence of force transmitted from the internally and externally threaded members to a portion of the force transmitting element disposed in the outer sector. 
     
     
       11. A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said step of providing relative rotation between internally and externally threaded members includes manually rotating one of the internally and externally threaded members relative to the other of said internally and externally threaded members. 
     
     
       12. A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein said step of manually rotating one of the internally and externally threaded members relative to the other of said internally and externally threaded members is performed by a person having the limb to which the first and second rigid members are connected. 
     
     
       13. A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said step of transmitting force from the internally and externally threaded members includes pulling on a flexible force transmitting element connected with the first and second rigid members and the internally and externally threaded members. 
     
     
       14. A method of moving a joint between first and second portions of a limb, said method comprising the steps of connecting a first rigid member with the first portion of the limb, connecting a second rigid member with the second portion of the limb with the first and second rigid members pivotally interconnected adjacent to the joint, and applying force to the first and second rigid members to effect relative movement between the first and second portions of the limb, said step of applying force to the first and second rigid members including providing relative rotation between internally and externally threaded members by manually rotating one of the threaded members relative to the other threaded member. 
     
     
       15. A method as set forth in claim 14 wherein said step of manually rotating one of the internally and externally threaded members relative to the other of said internally and externally threaded members is performed by a person having the limb to which the first and second rigid members are connected. 
     
     
       16. A method as set forth in claim 14 wherein said step of applying force to the first and second rigid members includes pulling on a flexible force transmitting element under the influence of force transmitted to the flexible force transmitting element during performance of said step of manually rotating one of the threaded members relative to the other threaded member.